2018 Chambertin Clos de Beze

The 2018 Chambertin Clos-de-Bèze Grand Cru contains 30% whole cluster this year and comes from both estate and purchased fruit. It has a very ripe nose with touches of fresh prune filtering through the red berry fruit. The palate is ripe and supple in the mouth, quite peppery in style with good acidity, although the finish is just missing the same degree of precision as, say, the 2016 or 2017. This is not the strongest card in Drouhin's hand this year.

Both estate and bought-in fruit. 30% whole bunch. Cask sample. Deep cherry red. Ripe damson and almost a bit jammy on the nose. A bit fresher on the palate but riper than I like in a fine burgundy. Full, savoury and has freshness in the tannins and a peppery character which helps balance the ripe fruit – good use of stems here. A little warm on the finish (grands crus in 2018 are 13.5–14%). This may get fresher with more time on the lees but at the moment it seems rather flat. (JH)